Our society is built on foundational laws, many of which were established over a century ago, including the age of consent being set at 16 in 1885. But as our understanding and experiences evolve, it becomes essential that our laws do as well in order to better protect our young people from potential harm and exploitation, especially at the hands of predatory individuals.

It's about time we revise the age of consent. Today, too many young women and men, not fully matured into adulthood, find themselves in situations where they are easily groomed and exploited. Despite being under 18, legal adulthood, they are unable to seek justice due to their legal 'consent' at the age of 16.

Changing this law is personal to me and many others who have experienced firsthand, or witnessed, the damage caused by these discrepancies in our lLegislation and reality. There also exists ample evidence supporting such a change; according to the World Population Review, the majority of countries worldwide have set the age of consent as 18 (World Population Review, 2021).

By raising the age of consent to 18, we are taking a stand against grooming and exploitation of minors, aligning age of consent laws with the legal adulthood age, and offering better legal protection for our young people. By adapting with the times, we can work together to ensure a safer, more secure future for younger generations to come. It's time for a change. Please, sign this petition to raise the age of consent from 16 to 18.